Apparatus for extracting piles.



J. BULL.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING PILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1915.

THE cOLuMmA PLANOGRAPH CO4, WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented Feb.29,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916..

APPLICATION HLED MAR-15,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Y

JOHN BULL, OF TOTTENHAM, LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING FILES.

Application filed March 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BULL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 1 Somerset road,'Tottenham, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Files and the like of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to pile drivers, pile extractors and like engines operated by steam orother fluid acting alternately on the opposite sides of a piston, and being admitted under the control of a vane or wing valve adapted to supply the motive fluid automatically and continuously during the working of the apparatus or engine.

In the case of pile extractors. the distributing valve is usually arranged outside the main cylinder within which the piston operates and the means for operating or controlling said valve comprise an arrangement of movable wedges or levers, projecting through slots in the cylinder so as to be engaged by the piston, for the purpose of actuating the valve to distribute the necessary fluid pressure. With such arrangement, however, the rate at which the blows or strokes are given is very limited while the action of the wedges and levers produces excessive wear and shock on the moving parts.

The chief object of the present invention is to overcome these defects by providing a pile driver or pile extractor whereby the force of the strokes or blows may be augmented, the number of blows imparted in any given time considerably increased, and the operation and control of the distributing valve such that the moving parts are less liable to shock. v According to the invention the distributing valve is provided at each end with wings or vanes separated from the valve proper by piston like disks and against which vanes the pressure medium is distributed so as to facilitate the turning or oscillating movement of the valve within a cylindrical chamber. communicating with the main cylinder through ports or passages leading to either side of thepiston. The

. motive fluid is admitted to the centralpart of a chamber immediately over the ports, while the, wings, vanes or the like move or operate the valve under the action of motive fluid conducted and distributed to the vanes through. auxiliary or supplementary ports Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Feb. 29, 1916. 1915. Serial No. 14,534. v 7

leading from the cylinder, the arrangement being such that the main ports leading from the central portion of the valve chamber shall be isolated from the end portions or compartments containing the wings or vanes by the aforesaid piston-like disks.

Other features will be apparent from the following detailed description.

In order that the inventionmay be clearly understood and readily carried. into effect the same will now be more fully described by the aid of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pile extracting machine made according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line X-Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the distributing valve drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a section of the valve taken on line VVV of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are end elevation and part sectional side elevation respectively showing an advantageous form of one of the valve covers. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan on line 2 -2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a front elevation showing a modified form of gripping jaws. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is asectional plan on line z2 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view through one end of the distributing valve shpwing a plurality of vanes.

A is themain cylinder and B the recip-- rocating piston therein.

C is the distributing valve for controlling the flow of the motive fluid to the piston B. For the purpose of cushioning the piston on its downward stroke the cylinder cover D may be provided with a tubular or hollow projectiondadapted to form a piston working within a corresponding opening or central bore in the piston B, see'Fig. 2. In lieu of such arrangement however, the lower end of the piston B may be adapted to engage a buffer ring D on the upper part of the cylinder cover, suitable packing being employed to prevent the escape of steam and appropriate means such as a drain cock D provided for enabling any water of condensation to be drained away from the cylinder. The means for supporting and transmitting the force of the piston B to the pile being operated upon, comprise a connecting bar or spindle E which passes through the piston B and is secured outside the cylinder cover D at one end by means of a nut F. At its other extremity the rod extends through the bridge Piece G and terminates in a collar and eye between which and the bridge piece G, a concussion spring E is arranged. Said spring also tends to force the said bridge piece back on to the top of the cylinder A to meet the percussion piston B on its upward stroke. Connecting to the bridge piece G are links H H to carry the grip holders J which are provided with adjustable grips or jaws K, K having serrated or like teeth for engaging the pile to be extracted.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 7 the grips K, K particularly applicable for use in connection with sheet piles, are of channel shape with set pins L, L for holding them in position, said pins being capable of moving in grooves in the grip holder to enable the grips to be adjusted to suit different sizes of piles.

In the modification shown at Figs. 8, 9 and 10, thejaws or grips K, K instead of being of channel shape, are shown as each having a ridge or feather K adapted to engage a groove or slot in the face of the holder. At their upper ends the grips may each be formed with a lip or flange which when the two grips are in position extend toward each other and form an opening or socket through which a wedge supported by the crossmembers J may be driven to raise the jaws when required to release them from the pile, or to adjust them for any other purposes. Obviously, the form of grip holder and jaws may be variously'modifled, according to the particular purpose to which machine is being put. For giving stability to the machine when in use lugs M M on the cvlinderfA are adapted to engage the rods H H.

The distributing valve C, which is shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, comprises a cylindrical member the central portion of which is separated from the end portions by means of pistons'or disks N N and is adapted to act as a valve element to control the main ports 0 0 leading from the valve casing P to either side respectively of the piston B. The outer extremities of said dis-. tributing valve are provided with wings, or vanes Q, Q, Q Q or the like separated from the central portion of the valve by said pistons or disks N N. The outer ends of the distributing valve chamber P are provided with covers R R having conical projections forming seats for the vanes Q, Q, Q Q Part cylindrical packing pieces S shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be fitted within the two end chambers of the valve casing, which packing pieces are formed with recesses for receiving trunnions T T on the disks or pistons N, N, and projections whereby the packing pieces may be secured by means of nuts U to the covers R R. Means may also be provided for adjusting the valve totake up wear from time to time. The motive fluid is admitted to the central space or chamber formed by the disks or pistons N, N, through an opening or aperture V connected to a supply pipe in any appropriate .manner. The cylinder P containing the distributing valve is provided with. a suitable base whereby with the aid of screwed studs or other fastening means it may be securely attached to the main cylinder.

In operation the motive fluid is admitted to the central part of the distributing valve chamber,'and assuming that the piston B is in the position shown at Fig. 2, the port 0, will be open to allow the fluid to pass to the. upper side of the piston and cause it to descend. The piston in descending uncovers the small ports 0 and permits the fluid to pass into contact with the vanes or wings Q Q to exert a force or pressure thereon and consequently effect a turning moment on the valve. The turning or oscillating of the valve closes the port 0 and opens the port 0 leading to the bottom end of the cylinder, as a result of which the piston is returned or moved upward. In ascending the piston uncovers the small ports 0, to admit fluid to those portions of the valve chamber containing the vanes Q, Q which are then acted upon to cause a reversal of the valve, these operations being alternate and continuous so long as fluid under pressure is admitted to the valve C. Thus the valve is turned or oscillated within the casing or cylinder P and simultaneously with the opening of one port the valve is adapted also, by reason of a recess or cavity to simultaneously open the other port to the exhaust X, see Figs. 2 and 3. lVith the position of the valve and piston as shown in the last named figures the fluid below the piston exhausts throughthe port 0 thereby permitting the piston to fall with'the assistance of fluid pressure entering above the piston by way of the port 0. Almost simultaneously with the piston exposing the ports 0 in the main cylinder C, fluid pressure is admitted into the auxiliary cylinder (Z formed in the inside of the piston B, see Fig. 2, which fluid iscompressed to a high degree on the downward stroke of the piston, the cylinder (Z being provided with suitable packing rings at its upper end to prevent the escape of the fluid. The compression of the fluid in the cylinder d effectively cushions the piston B on its downward stroke and greatly accelerates the return stroke by giving up the energy stored in the compression fluid during compression. As the piston continues to .fall in the cylinder A it exposes the ports 0 on its upper side and the fluid admitted then acts to return the valve to its first position as above described thereby enabling the fluid pressure to act in forcing the piston upward again. In this manner the'reciprocation of the piston continues during the admission of fluid to the valve.

While the invention has been described in connection with a percussion piston adapted to strike upward it will be understood, that it is equally applicable to pile driving hammers in which the piston strikes downward.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a fluid actuated pile driver or pile extractor the combination with a cylinder having a piston therein, of a valve casing having ports connecting the cylinder to the control portion of said valve casing and leading to either side of said piston, a distributing valve having at each end two vanes for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the piston, means interposed between said vanes to produce in the valve casing a central and end chambers within which latter the vanes operate, further ports connecting the end chambers to the cylinder and means for supporting the valve and closing said end chambers.

52. In a fluid actuated pile driver or pile extracting machine, the combination with a cylinder and a reciprocating piston, of a valve casing communicating with said cylinder, a distributing valve having vanes at each end for controlling the flow of motive fluid alternately to opposite sides of the piston, means interposed between said vanes to produce a central and end chambers within which latter chambers said vanes oscillate, ports connecting the chambers to the cylinder, and packing pieces positioned at said end chambers, said valve having means cooperating with said packing pieces for supporting the valve.

3. In a fluid actuated pile driver or pile extracting machine the combination with a cylinder and a piston working within said cylinder, of a valve casing attached to the cylinder, main ports connecting one portion of the valve casing to either end of the cylinder, a distributing valve hcving vanes at each end adapted to actuate the valve and thereby control the flow of motive fluid to said piston, auxiliary ports leading from the cylinder to said vanes, packing means for said valve and means for holding said packing in position.

4. In a fluid actuated pile driver or pile extracting machine the combination with a cylinder and a piston working within said cylinder, a valve casing attached to the cyl-' inder, main and auxiliary ports connecting said valve casing with the cylinder, a balanced valve adapted to operate within said casing, vanes on said valve actuated by the fluid admitted through the auxiliary ports to oscillate the valve and direct the flow of motive fluid through the main ports, disks on said valve for isolating the vanes and producing a central and end chambers communicating with the main and auxiliary ports respectively, part cylindrical packing pieces fitting said end chambers, and covers for closing said chambers.

5. In a fluid actuated pile extracting ma chine, the combination with a cylinder having a piston, of a valve casing attached to the cylinder, and a balanced valve mounted in the casing comprising a central distributing chamber, for controlling the flow of fluid to the piston, actuating chambers at the ends of the valve, and a plurality of vanes at substantially the extremities of the valve and operating in the end chambers, said valve casing and cylinder being provided with main and auxiliary ports to cooperate with the valve chambers, the vanes on the valve being actuated by fluid admitted through certain of the ports to oscillate the valve and thereby vary its position relative to other ports.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BULL.

WVitnesses:

P. D. BAILEY, T. SELBY WARDLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

